85R1014 AAF-D     By: Burrows H.B. No. 1839       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the submission of a report by certain entities   identifying spending reduction measures.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 322.025 to read as follows:          Sec. 322.025.  REPORT ON SPENDING REDUCTION MEASURES. (a)     Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, each entity   that is required to submit a legislative appropriations request   shall submit to the board a detailed report identifying measures by   which the entity may reduce its expenditures from general revenue   and general revenue-dedicated accounts by 1 percent, 5 percent, and   10 percent in the next state fiscal biennium.          (b)  An entity described by Subsection (a) shall rank each of   the 1 percent, 5 percent, and 10 percent spending reduction   measures from highest to lowest priority. The entity shall assign   higher priority to measures that:                 (1)  have fewer consequences for the entity's programs   and goals;                (2)  have less impact on populations served by the   entity; or                (3)  eliminate redundancies and inefficiencies.          (c)  An entity described by Subsection (a) may not include in   the report a spending reduction measure that would violate the   state or federal constitution.          (d)  The board may exempt certain expenditures from   consideration under this section.          (e)  The board may issue guidance regarding:                (1)  standards for reports required by this section,   including format, content, and methods of submission; and                (2)  prioritizing spending reduction measures under   Subsection (b).          (f)  The board may require an entity to submit the report   under this section with the entity's legislative appropriations   request.          (g)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,   the board shall make reports received under this section available   to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of   representatives, and members of the legislature.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.